Taipei, Sep 23 (EFE).– The dengue epidemic in Taiwan has caused 42 deaths and resulted in 14,590 confirmed cases since the beginning of May, the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC, said Wednesday.

The death toll is the highest in a dengue epidemic in 14 years and could rise because 29 other deaths with symptoms similar to dengue are being examined, the CDC said, adding that total infections could reach 37,000 by year-end.

Some 98.4 percent of cases have been registered in the southern city of Tainan, while infections continue to spread rapidly, with 719 new cases registered Wednesday.

September and October usually have the highest number of dengue cases, which is why the CDC does not expect the epidemic to be brought under control anytime soon.

Normally, most serious dengue outbreaks in Taiwan occur during summer and autumn, subsiding by January.

Dengue, a serious viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes, is characterized by high fever, intense headaches, muscle pain, gastro-intestinal problems and rashes. EFE